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The 37-year-old English actor married the Romeo + Juliet actress in a secret ceremony in France in 2009.

Danes recently told Anderson Cooper the couple was ecstatic to be expecting three years after their nuptials.

Close to her due date: The couple was pictured in New York City on December 11 - six days before Danes gave birth

'There's no way of anticipating what that's going to mean for us but we are very excited,' she said.

'We are going to love this person, I know that.'

The actress has plenty to celebrate going into the New Year.

In addition to the baby, her Showtime drama Homeland is leading the way with four Golden Globe nominations, including a nod to Danes in the best actress category.

The season finale of the hit show on Sunday night was also its highest-rated ever, with 2.7million viewers tuning in.

Danes plays Carrie Mathison, a driven CIA officer who falls for a war hero suspected of being a terrorist.

She's expected to now have a little time off, having recently wrapped production of forthcoming comedy drama As Cool as I Am, co-starring James Marsden - who coincidentally welcomed a son - his third child - with Brazilian model Rose Costa on Friday, December 14.

Dancy meanwhile will feature in forthcoming animated family musical Dorothy of Oz next year, as the voice of Marshal Mallow.

Patrick Stewart, Martin Short and Lea Michele also feature in the film.